Florida thieves break into woman's vehicle, steal irreplaceable photographs of late husband, family

At least 12 photo albums were taken

Jeff Skrzypek

11:28 PM, Jan 7, 2014

8:35 AM, Jan 8, 2014

Jeff Skryzpek reports

WPTV

A South Florida woman's car was broken into while golfing in Boca Raton and the thieves ended up snatching away something she said is irreplaceable. Dozen of old family photos were stolen right from her vehicle.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- - A South Florida woman's car was broken into while golfing in Boca Raton and the thieves ended up snatching away something she said is irreplaceable.

Dozens of old family photos were stolen right from her vehicle.

Heather Kostenbauder said she now only has a few photographs left of her past.

The rest were stolen from her Dodge Ram truck while playing 18 holes at Southwinds Golf Course.

"I couldn't believe it. Just dumbfounded," said Kostenbauder.

Just a day after the theft happened, Kostenbauder had to fly to Michigan for a pre-planned trip. Right now she is trapped from traveling from all of the snow.

She said the day of the theft, she had carelessly left a cardboard box in the bed of her truck. While she was hitting the links, someone stole the box containing 12 albums full of priceless memories.

"They're irreplaceable. I mean I haven't even told my daughter because I know she's going to be devastated," said Kostenbauder.

The family is especially devastated because many of the photos which were taken are of Kostenbauder's late husband. The photos are all she has left of him.

"If we don't get them back, it'll just be a part of our life that we can't relive and relive with him," said Kostenbauder.

She filed a report with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and posted an ad on Craigslist. Kostenbauder even got a little help from the folks at Southwinds Golf Course who made "WANTED" posters.

"You don't like to see that happen to anybody, especially a regular that we see all the time," said Michael Halcomb of Southwinds Golf Course.

Kostenbauder is now hoping her personal mementos are still out there. She is offering a $500 reward for the return of the photos and said no questions will be asked.

"I don't care about prosecuting or any of that. I don't care. I just really would like the photos back," said Kostenbauder.

Anyone with any information surrounding the stolen photos should call 561.251.0700.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.